“We human beings do have some genuine freedom of choice and therefore some effective control over our own destinies. I am not a determinist. But I also believe that the decisive choice is seldom the latest choice in the series. More often than not, it will turn out to be some choice made relatively far back in the past.”
— Arnold Toynbee
A startling revelation about the number of different kinds of bacteria in the deep-sea raises fundamental new questions about microbial life and evolution in the oceans. Scientists found marine microbial diversity may be some 10 to 100 times more than expected, and the vast majority are previously unknown, low-abundance organisms theorized to play an important role in the marine environment.
Last week’s shutdown of the Forsmark nuclear power plant in Sweden, north of Stockholm, reportedly could have resulted in a meltdown. The emergency — called by some the most dangerous international nuclear incident since the destruction of the Russian Chernobyl plant 20 year ago — occurred when two of four generators shut down, officials said. The plant provides one-sixth of Sweden’s electricity.
Speaking of nuclear power, on Monday Britain’s leading scientists urged authorities to move quickly to bury radioactive waste deep underground rather than wait to clear up all doubts about such a disposal. The Royal Society, Britain’s national academy of science, said scientists need to learn much more about how best to dispose of radioactive waste but that such a need should not be “used as an excuse” to delay action.
This month in Monterey Bay, Calif., an entire fleet of undersea robots will for the first time work together without the aid of humans to observe the ocean. The mathematical system that allows the undersea robots to self-choreograph their movements in response to their environment might one day be used to explore other planets, or understand how birds flock and fish school.
That shriek you hear is thousands of scientists screaming, “Aw, F#$%!!” For decades, in thousands of laboratories across the country, biomedical researchers have relied on laboratory rats and mice to devise treatments for cancer, heart disease, inflammation and a host of other human afflictions. But what if, despite all the rigorous procedures to ensure valuable test results, many of those studies have been skewed by the most seemingly mundane of factors: what the animals are routinely fed? The concern is that researchers have unwittingly administered hormones present in some rodent chow. A small but growing number of scientists are warning that these hormones are a hidden element in millions of laboratory experiments – potentially affecting researchers’ conclusions on countless aspects of disease.
Respiratory function has been so severely compromised in some World Trade Center rescuers that even as the fifth anniversary of the attack approaches, experts are reporting a dramatic aging effect in the lungs of 9-11 firefighters and others.
Winning hearts and minds, you betcha! Ninety-eight Percent Of Gaza’s Children Experience Or Witness War Trauma. Most children in the Gaza Strip have been tear gassed, have had their homes searched and damaged, and have witnessed shooting, fighting and explosions. Many have been injured or tortured as a result of chronic war that spans generations, says a recent Queen’s University study. According to the study, there is a pattern of violence against Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip that has serious and debilitating psychiatric and psychological effects. Needless to say, this is a violation of those “quaint” Geneva conventions…
Unions representing thousands of staff scientists at the EPA say EPA is bending to political pressure and ignoring sound science in allowing a group of toxic chemicals to be used in agricultural pesticides. Meanwhile, fourteen states have petitioned the EPA to require pesticide manufacturers to disclose secret, potentially hazardous ingredients in their products.
The Bush administration had the right to overturn a ban on road construction in untouched parts of national forests, but may have needed to weigh possible environmental effects at the same time, a federal judge said Tuesday. She questioned whether the agency violated federal law by skipping environmental studies — the heart of two lawsuits brought by 20 environmental groups and the states of California, Oregon, New Mexico and Washington. The cases have since been consolidated, and all parties presented arguments Tuesday. Judge Laporte said she did not know when she would issue a final decision.
Researchers have developed a “man-made” scorpion venom to be used in the treatment of brain tumors. The venom is used as a carrier to deliver radioactive iodine into tumor cells left behind after surgery has removed the bulk of the tumor. Initial findings suggest the treatment is well-tolerated and may be effective.
China is tightening central control of its environmental enforcement agency in an attempt to improve enforcement that has been uneven (at best) under the current decentralized approach.
Panda Ethanol Inc. has secured nearly US$160 million in financing to build an ethanol plant that will be fired by mountains of manure in Hereford, a cattle town in the Texas panhandle. “We’ve located a project in what I would call the Saudi Arabia of manure,” said Todd Carter, the company’s chief executive officer. The plant will gasify 1 billion pounds of manure a year to make 100 million gallons of ethanol. The manure will save the plant nearly 365,000 barrels of oil equivalent per year. Panda hopes to get it running by late next year. [Maybe they need a second plant in Washington D.C. to handle the manure there?]
Mornin’, Knox. I had promised CG last week that I would help out this week by posting the NewsBucket if you couldn’t get to it. I had today’s up, but deleted it as soon as you posted yours. I’ve been making a point of checking every morning… it’s hotter than hell outside and nothing better to do than sit inside and hang out here. 🙂
I didn’t see it. Sorry. Guess I didn’t look far enough down the list.
No problem… I just wanted you to know that I have your back this week. 🙂
Link to NYT article behind free subscription.
WASHINGTON, July 31 — Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller, who commanded detention operations at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and helped organize the interrogation process at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, retired from the military on Monday, Pentagon officials said.
[snip]
General Miller still may be summoned to testify at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee into detainee operations and prisoner abuse. One senior Pentagon official said the general had written to the committee to guarantee his availability for the panel’s work.
[snip]
At his retirement ceremony Monday, General Miller received the Distinguished Service Medal, which is awarded for exceptionally commendable service in a position of great responsibility, Army officials said.
John Sifton, a lawyer who is a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said giving the medal to General Miller “is not just a disappointment, it’s an outrage.”
General Miller, Mr. Sifton said, “has a lot of questions he hasn’t answered” about the policies he drafted at Guantánamo Bay and the recommendations he made in Iraq.
Outrageous.
Link
The United Nations Security Council’s new resolution on Iran gives Tehran until the end of August to suspend all uranium-enrichment-related activities or face the prospect of international sanctions, an ultimatum instantly denounced by Iran as illegal and unjustified. This means that Iran now faces a double crisis, given Israel’s military onslaught against its strategic ally in Lebanon, Hezbollah.
Thus, contrary to what has become an article of faith in the Western media, about Iran somehow gaining influence due to the war in Lebanon, the exact opposite may be in the works, particularly if Israel’s latest claim of destroying most of Hezbollah’s rockets turns out to be true.
This Asia Times article explains how Iran considers Hezbollah a buffer between them and an aggressive Israel. It also explores Iran’s influence, security, and possible responses to the UN’s demands involving the nuclear question. It’s a well written article, and if you have the time, it’s well worth the read.
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NEW YORK (CNSNews.com) Aug. 1 — A measure originally drafted by Britain and France and supported by the U.S. would have made the sanctions threat immediate should Iran not meet the deadline. But it ran into opposition from veto-wielding Russia and China, and was revised. Now, if Iran does not stop uranium enrichment by August 31, the council will meet again to consider sanctions.
Russia and China have both consistently opposed sanctions against Iran, a country with which they enjoy strong political and economic ties.
Russian envoy to the U.N. Valery Churkin, stressed that the provision on sanctions meant the council would merely hold a discussion on possible punitive steps.
China’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Lio Jen Min, said negotiation and dialogue were the only answer to the standoff, and should begin quickly. He stressed that if Tehran provided a positive answer to the P5+1 offer, the council would take no further action.
Veto by U.S. State Dep’t – John Bolton – on Israeli aggression and Qana massacre, angered the Russian and Chinese diplomats, they refused to cooperate on Iranian resolution!
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
Anarchist media? From this morning’s Chron:
Except old lawyers with fading memories who once were advisors to the Chancellor.
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BBC World Live
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
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Taking part in BBC is Uri Avnery of Gush Shalom
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY